AWK! Don't make me do that again

Today was not fun. I went shopping with no make up on, messed up hair and this fat that I take everywhere. This means that every item I tried on, I looked bad.

First, I went to CATO expecting to run in and get something new and green. Well everything I tried on looked absolutely atrocious. So out I walked and went to Kohl's, I went into the dressing room with six or more shirts and two pairs of pants. I walked out with one possible shirt. Then I looked over all the store again and found another two pairs of pants and a sweater.  Back to the dressing room I go, success would not be what I would call but I left with a new outfit for Tuesday and along with a migraine. I got a sherbet green tunic with white embroidery and new black twill pants with new black wedges with a short heel.

Of course then I needed new earrings and bracelet to match but ended up with two bracelets and cute earrings that I might or might not wear but had to have.  The bronze bracelet won't go with the new outfit but will go nicely with other stuff on other days.

I hate being overweight and I hate shopping for an overweight body. Today totally sucked! While I am working on the weight, some days it feels so overwhelming and frustrating. The weight can come on fast but incredibly slow to go off.  I don't know if today was a wake up call to make me determined to lose or a surrender to be fat and okay with it.

Enough for now...

Chaos, Utter and Total Chaos

Today was one crazy day! No matter what I tried to do others had other thoughts on the matter. I spent the majority of the day cleaning up rather bad photos and then update files on the web - not what I planned at all.

I tried to work on several things and talk to various people but ended up spinning my wheels. I am actually rather calm about it because I am ready for my big event. However, I will say that I feel somewhat like the cat below.



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Miss Popular who one day will be our Govenor or President

This photo was taken last year and awareness day.
PWDAD_2010 (060), a photo by OK DRS on Flickr.

Today we went to the State Capitol to tell the legislators that we will be coming next week and give them some information. This is always so much more fun when you get paired up with someone versus doing it alone.

This year, Hailey and I go from office to office. It was so much easier this year because I was with Miss Popular. She is an intern this year, which means she knows the secret passage ways that I would never dream of using. And she knows the Senate real well and that's who we were visiting. Yeah, Team Hailey!

What I regret the most is that we did our job so well that we didn't talk up our normal subject - Twilight! She always has the latest scoops on the subject. She also promises that the books are better than the movies. The other topic of choice is make-up. She blows me out of the water on that but maybe I'll learn something.

Today I had a good day and I laughed a lot.

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Felicity Beckons

A week from today is our big event at the state capitol. The thing that my office has been working very hard to plan and prepare. The thing causing me to work late and on the weekends. The thing give me migraines and array of other ailments.

I love that we do this every year. I feel like it is worth while but this is my fifth awareness day and I am ready for it to be done. So I have scheduled a vacation for two weeks after the big event so that I can go away for one whole week without thinking about the big event.

Our survey should be done then. The autopsy on what went right and what went wrong should be done then. Stuff put up and statistics calculated. So my vacation should be nothing short of felicity. What I ask you is, what should that felicity entail? What to do? Any ideas?

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Where's the ADDY

The advertising agency reps that thought up these commercials are geniuses! This is my favorite of them so far. I love the woman's "humph" at the end.

Worked only from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and my brain is mush so I have to steal other's brilliance. Enjoy!



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Something to strive for

I want to be able to change clothes by spinning around fast. Don't really care about the lasso thing. I know everyone lies but who really wants to know the truth? Now the invisible plane, yeah, I'd like that. The bracelets are cool but if someone is shooting at me, my butts on the ground taking cover. I would like the gold belt of strength, especially with a bad back.

However, why is that the female super hero has to wear such a stupid outfit. First, is really wise to bath suit when your going to fight crime? High heel boots makes you look really stupid if you have to run after anyone.

I am a little snarky tonight.



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I am still alive and I ate dirt too

Holy crap, is there nothing that's on face value anymore? Do we have to dissect everything to pieces? The video below is about "ring around the rosie" being about black death.

Dodge ball is being banned because it's too violent, see Time for Kids article.

Tag is starting to be banned for liability reasons. Oh my stars, our country is going to be full of wusses when the current genreation's kids grow up! I am not that old and millions of things have changed since my era.

For example, I road in the cubby part behind the back seat of mom and dad's VW bug and stared at the driver in the car behind us. I road my bike and roller skated without a helmet. I had every freaking vaccination known to man. I wasn't allowed a phone in my room until I moved out and got my own apartment. I was only allow to watch what I wanted to watch on TV if mom and dad wanted to watch that too. Wusses, I say, Wusses!



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HAWK

If you are going to get trapped somewhere, this is the place to do it.

I had a great casually calm day with Linda and Theresa.  Drove an hour for a 20 minute meeting then we explored the newly remodel Roman Nose State Park Lodge. If you ever go and you see the outside patio think twice about going there if you do not have a room key.

I told Linda "let's go out there," and Linda followed. It was really pretty over looking a small lake where the paddle boats go. Then Theresa joined us out there and we enjoying the patio while waiting for the sale rep for the lodge. While peaceful, the patio was small and we decided to go back in ... ummm, the door locked and we couldn't get back in. So we sat down and waited till someone noticed us.

When work was done and we left the lodge, we traveled toward home going the scenic route of Watonga, Kingfisher and Okarche. Once in Okarche, we decided to go to Eischen's for chicken and good conversation. We managed to have at least a two and half hour lunch with much conversation and laughter.

After lunch we returned back from the country to the city. When we got back to Linda's house, we talked for another two hours sitting in the drive way. What amazes me the most is that from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. we were non-stop talk as if we hadn't seen each other in years.

On a fun note was that this was Linda first road trip with Theresa and she learned about Theresa's Hawk ESP. Every two miles, Theresa will say while pointing to a tree or to the sky "Hawk" then continue the conversation, then point to the next hawk. Through out the day, we all began to laugh about how many hawks she was point out. About 15 minutes from home, Linda points to a tree and says "Hawk." Great, I am traveling with a couple of coo coos! Okay, I guess I should admit that every time I heard the word hawk, I might have imitate what a hawk might sound like "CA, CA."

Relaxing silly day.

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A Tripping We Shall Go!

Today is my Friday. I am going to Roman Nose with co-workers, Theresa and Linda, tomorrow. Theresa is working; Dana and Linda are Road Tripping!

Okay so we have no idea what we are going to do in/near Watonga, OK but it won't be here. I took tomorrow off and get to sleep till 8:30 ish - Yeah! I will not think about work at tomorrow, Yeah! I will be silly and snarky at the same time tomorrow, Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

What usually happens when the three of us get together is that silliness ensues. I am expecting much silliness. Especially, since all three of us are insanely busy, insanely overwhelmed with projects and Linda and Theresa have just got back in town from trips. We will be tripping alright!

I googled "what to do in Watonga," still don't know what we will be doing. If they have a Steinmart or Kohl's we are golden. If they have a casino Linda and I are good - Theresa not so much, she does not like gambling. Who knows but I will probably come home with a wild boar story of some kind.

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Living it up!

I think I wanted to work in my yard this weekend, now I doubt that will happen. My back is killing me and I don't think a bunch of raking and pruning will help it any.

I am currently working through lunch so that I can leave work an hour early to get home to the heating pad. I hate being weak. I hate hurting. Does anyone have a miracle homeopathic cure for a bad back? Don't want to live on Motrin my whole life - been there done that. Witch Hazel? Parsley? Basil? Anything?

So can it get worse? I have already stated in previous posts that it can and it usually does. Yes, it got worse. My period came a few days early! Really!?! Whoops, my dad just exited the house to do something in the garage, I said the P word. After living so long with all girls, his survival skills kicked it.

Well there's nothing better to tell you that you are still alive than pain. I am living every minute of this day! Look for a happier post in five days.

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Just because I don't feel like it

It's open mic tonight! Leave your own comment blog entry. I am the green one, which one are you?



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I vacuumed today!

It's amazing when the most exciting thing that happened today is that I pushed the vacuum button when I left to go to lunch. I also took a 40 gallon shower and I truly don't care that Al Gore just choked on his soybean sandwhich. I have not had such a long luxurious shower that I used all hot water - marvelous! Another day of boring bliss and I am thrilled.

The only bummer is that my back is trying to go out. Not now, that cannot happen so I am taking ibuprofen and ignoring it.

Then I watched the "Next Three Days." Oh my gosh, my heart was racing through half that movie that I truly think I may have lost three pounds just watching that. If you want a good movie watch it!

Sorry fokes but boring days don't give you much to blog about and today I am thankful for that.

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A Wonderful Day

Mundane, glorious mundane Saturday. Today was chalked full of ordinary tasks and it felt wonderful. The only thing I didn't do was laundry and vacuuming. I look forward to doing that tomorrow.

Dad and I went to Petsmart and then to Sam's where I was surprised at how much I really needed from there. Then we picked up Mom and went to lunch.  Making the day even better, we went to Walmart. My frig is now full and my house is almost picked up.

When you have so much stress in your life, boring becomes as exciting as Christmas. So what could top off this glorious day? An hour long bath with my book and my coke. I can't wait for tomorrow!

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I am sorry but we are revoking your NRA membership

Imagine six women at On the Boarder, scarfing down chips and salsa and out of nowhere comes this. I shall cherish it forever and ever.

“My husband’s was a hunting guide for a while and one time he took a guy out hunting wild boar. Now the guy hunting was in a wheelchair. So all’s he could do is shoot from the chair. He shot a boar through the nose up to the frontal lobe but did not kill it.

So Matt has to go track the boar because it’s not dead and ran off. Following the boar’s bloody trail, he goes into the woods. All of the sudden the boar appears and is rather pissed, he chases Matt into a rather skimpy tree. He then calls me and tells me about the predicament he’s in – ‘What do you want me to do?’ I ask. Oh did I mention he left his gun in the truck!

'What kind of guide tracks a wild boar with frontal lobe damage without a gun?'”

Only a nurse would describe the boar’s injury as frontal lobe damage. Then there was five full minutes of everyone at the table mimicking short term memory loss.

“What did I come here for? Where was I going? Have we met?”

Lunch was hilarious and that was only one story! If all the people at Theresa's former employer are as crazy and fun as the three I had lunch with – I want to go to work there!

I have to say I haven’t laughed that hard in years!

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Whatever you do don't close your mouth

Is it possible to love and hate spring at the same time? My sinuses are angry and my head is paying the price.

Can you use a neti pot too much? Since my body does not like all the antihistamine and congestion medicine, I had to find a method that did not include drugs.  So every three or four hours, I am rinsing my sinuses.

I would also like to know is how much snot can your freaking body make? I have not been able to completely clean out my sinuses. This is my annual  headache that comes every spring but I usually can keep it bearable and work through it. This one came on like a freight train and it is just now starting to ease up.

Who was the weirdo that thought up flushing water up your nose was a good thing. Now, if the neti pot came with a cute guy, I would be more apt to use it. I hate allergies.

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My Brain is Imploding

mi·graine   /ˈmaɪgreɪn or, Brit., ˈmi-/

[mahy-greyn or, Brit., mee-] –noun

an extremely severe paroxysmal headache, usually confined to one side of the head and often associated with nausea; hemicrania.

Today, I am the walking definition of migraine. Thank goodness, it's mild as migraines go and I am not throwing up in the dark pleading with the air to stop hurting me. I have had a dull hard ache with just a touch of nausea all day. Thinking for me was next to impossible, which makes it bad at work.

Then I kept getting the most insane emails or calls. One such email exchange began when I sent an email to all staff that explain why our event was important and in the headline and in the third paragraph I explain that it is important that we all wear green as a show of unity. This has be a tradition of this event for the last four years.

Five minutes later, I receive an email from a co-worker who asks "are we wearing green this year." What??? It's in the headline! So not to make her feel silly, I just reply "Yes, and I expected you to wear green head to toe. Actually, a shirt or nice jacket will do." Ignored the fact that in the email she replied with had all that information.

I feel proud that I dealt with the silly co-worker who doesn't read my emails and makes it obvious by asking these question without sarcasm or rancor. I then go about my business. Then pops up another email from silly co-worker who asks "should we email staff telling them that?" Crap! How do I handle this now? Silly co-worker forces me to point out that in this email thread is the 'wear green' directive and it is in the headline and third paragraph plus it is on the event flyer and event website.

The final reply I get is "Sorry Dana, I am busted. I only half read your email." No wonder I have a migraine.

Enough for now...

Well Deserved Luxury

Mom and I took a much needed mani-pedi indulge. I am officially a noodle now.  The best thing that was ever created was those giant massaging chair with hot water attached along with the super skills that make everything on your mind fly out for at least one hour.

I believe Mom needed it as much as I did. We laughed and talked silly with the girls doing the pedi. I stated my favorite part of the pedi as it happened. I discovered all my favorites parts of the pedi was what was happening to me at the moment. I could do without the scrub sponge that tickles tremendously but everything else I could do weekly.

The mani wasn't that cool since it was really a fill. Mom had to tell me how much I was missing by not getting the manicure. When you have acrylics the mani-pedi is less exciting. What I hate is that I have awesome nails but because of my computer work, I destroy them and won't keep them nice. With acrylics, you have no choice, you must get your fills and you have pretty nails most of the time.

This time I choose silver (looks more like a pearly white) bored with red. What's the craziest color you've ever painted your nails?

Enough for now...

Let the Sunshine In

What are you so happy about WE'RE CLOWNS!

I am always tickled pink to see daylight saving return and along with that comes the longer days to boot. I have to say that I am always in mild state of depression with winter comes. Now, with the time change this weekend, I have retrain myself to go to sleep what seems to be early and wake up even earlier.

The problem with this weekend is that I am starting off with less sleep than normal. Big man, Seamus, spent the weekend with me and well, it wasn't as great as it usually is - he's sick and I pray he gets better soon.

This weekend I worked on my SECOND free-lancing job (so cool to be earning money where I am the boss, well technically, the customer is - never mind I digress!). Then I began working on scanning old photographs from Mom and Dad's. The old Polaroid type and older are beginning to fad to the point of loosing them all together. Oddly, the black and white photos hold up really well.

When you scan tons and tons of family photos, it is actually kind of fun - my parents were just as dorky as I am or just as cool as I am...mom had uglier hairstyles but my clothes were worse and dad is just a riot.


Enough for now...




Pimp Tommie and his woman! White shoes really?

Do you really think that stick is going to
hide those skimpy shorts?





My Cousins' Mom, My Mom's Sister, My Aunt

My Mom, Wanda, on the left, Aunt Shirley, on the right, April 1960.

Thursday night, my Aunt Shirley left this earth for her place in heaven. While the family was able to prepare for this through her five month battle with cancer, it is hard. Our hearts hurt for our loss but rejoice the she is at peace.

To all my friends out there, say a prayer for my aunt's brother and sisters, her nieces and nephew, but most importantly her son and daughter and all her grandchildren who are going to miss her the most.

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Up a Tree

"I will get up and do something as soon as you do."

Between web crisis and preparing for the awareness day at the capitol, I feel like these guys.

The exhaustion and stress are starting to display in hilarity. I find that I am having the giggles over nothing.

Dana: "Hey Theresa, do you want to go to lunch?"
Theresa: "Okay, when?"
Dana: "I dunno."
Theresa: "Okay."

That is about the extent of what Co-worker Theresa and I can decide. We have both been so buried in work that we teeter between apathy and hysteria.

Ever been so busy that it seems impossible to get anything done? Ever been so overwhelmed that paralysis sets in?

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When !@#$ Abounds

You know those people who say "it can't get worse," they are complete and total IDIOTS. I am one such idiot! My plate has been extremely full lately and my coping skills are less than stellar - I didn't think it could get worse.

Today, I go to work early to get a lot of work accomplished before everyone could come in, I get quite a few things out and then I send out my announcement about the annual report.

I send out an email to more than one thousand employees saying how great it is and to go check it out, here's the link. Then within three minutes, I start getting emails stating that the link takes them to different website. So I check the links, they are correct, so why does it send you to the wrong website? Lo and behold, my domain has expired! Then I get to the domain registry and my user name and password don't work. Panic ensues!

After much chaos, the domain gets renewed and my panic settles down. Then I keep refreshing my website hoping that it go directly to MY site not the domain renewal page. I have to call and ask why won't it redirect. Now, it's up to my web hosting server to update or refresh. I then call them to see if I can expedite the refresh, only problem Verio support won't answer the phone!

I sit here at 7:23 p.m. with my site still not visible and I am just about sick with nerves.

Can it get worse? Yes, and it usually does.

While I was on my three hour call with Verio (actually while I was on hold with that insane woman saying  "the next available representative would be right with you")  Mom called me and tells me Seamus is very sick and is having extreme arthritis. It can get worse!!

I think I want to run away to Alaska. There's no problems there right? They have days where the sun doesn't set, you can't be overwhelmed or depressed in the sunshine. That's it I am going to Alaska, I feel like a wet cat!

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It's an Odyssey Alright

Somehow, I think my name got changed to Dave and H.A.L. is in control of my life. I don't like H.A.L. The only response I want now is "Yes, go ahead." Go away H.A.L. I don't like you.



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When the cries slip up on you

Watching Les Miserables on OETA tonight I was totally floored by the flood of emotions it brought - actually I am shocked. I would think people who have not read the book would find the musical wonderful but for those like me who practically studied  the book, this is spell binding.

I loved the story Victor Hugo wrote with so many twist and turns and moral judgements and heartbreak. As I watch and listen to the musical, the book comes flooding back. 

I will confess this is probably the worse thing I could have watched at this time in my life. You hide things down deep and Hugo just pulls every thing up through his characters, everything from the struggle to make a living (Fantine), enduring the overly moral (Javert), to love those who don't return the love (Eponine), to redemption (Jean Valjean). Les Miserables captures the gamut of life.

The following song is about young Marius who was hurt at the barricades, but the opening line applies to all things in my life, "God on High, hear my prayer. In my need you've have always been there."



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Do What???

There are moments in our lives that define who we are and what we will become – today did not hold any such moment. I sat on the couch and vegged out to the point that I have to say it was not that great of a day.

The lazy days that have a wee bit of productivity are the best days. Today, nothing, nada, zip. I wasn’t even in the mood to read. I have kind of gotten out the habit of reading again and with my departure from caffeine I am falling asleep the minute my head hits the pillow.

Now I sit watching Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, after watching Underworld Evolution. I am appalled at my apathy and at the same time don’t care enough to do anything about it. I wonder is there another Underworld coming out? Sexy guys in leather and sweaty… can’t ask for more in a movie.

I hope I have the gumption to be more productive as my house is a disaster and I have to do some office work before Monday. I seemed to be getting behind in life and that is not a state of being I am accustomed to.

Who out there is laughing at me by this point? The tangents in my writing are proving that Dana needs to put the keyboard down. Am I the only one who has days like this, days where forming a sentence is difficult? Am I slipping?

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An Acquired Taste

Sometimes I really miss the absurdity of my youth. In the late 80's there was an a definite style to every single thing that we did. Whether it was in our dress, attitude, music, and language, "like you know."

I used to live for my monthly "Interview Magazine," for my art, fashion  and celebrity culture. Man O'Man, did I think I was so hip, now I have to laugh at myself a wee bit. And then there was performance art, Laurie Anderson was my favorite.

What's your favorite 80's memory?




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Lunch for Eleven

An impromptu lunch today found me breaking bread with co-workers that I normally don't eat with - a nice turn of events. As yesterday's entry announced that I was going to have a high school student shadow me all day. Since I had a guest, I invited the entire fifth floor to join us at On the Border. You really can't go wrong with Mexican food. There were 11 of us and it was fun.

I think it was really especially nice since my high schooler's mom works at with us and it showed her that the floor could rally around to show her kiddo a good time.

Today, my co-workers made me proud. The shadowing went well too.

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Me and My Shadow

Tomorrow, I will have a senior from Yukon High School job shadowing me all day. Do you know how intimidating it can be knowing that you can shatter someone's dream with your boring job? The student coming wants to be a journalist, I hope that she won't totally judge the rest of her potential life on my job. Yes, the media is a large part of my job but so is the web, twitter, brochures, pictures, and other unglamourous stuff.

I have some media releases saved for tomorrow and photos to post so we will have stuff we can do together. Since she's a high school student and not a college student in J-school, I won't be able to give her stuff and turn her loose. That's okay, I just hope that she learns something and has fun.

I love doing things for the kids but it makes me nervous. And kids can smell fear!

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I need to be like Seamus

Do what ever you will, I don't care...that is what Seamus thinks. I wish I was more like him. Would you sit perfectly still and let someone hold your chin like this? I would probably knock their hand away and give them a dirty look. I need to be more like Seamus!


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Rolling in the Money

I have been getting to know Muskogee, Oklahoma this weekend and visiting with family. When I returned home, I had a $511 check in the mail, $114 from Google and $300 extra in my pay check. Wow, if only every weekend was so profitable.

The $511 is not extra money gained but from my mortgage escrow account. Last year, my home owner's insurance spiked and I didn't pay attention to my insurance declaration until I got my mortgage escrow adjustment notice. I quickly called my insurance guy to fix the insurance problem. My home owners insurance went back to a reasonable level and my agent told me that he doubted that they would readjust my mortgage payment. They didn't. So all last year I way over paid. I fully expected my mortgage payment to drop this year dramatically but instead the escrow company refunded $511 and dropped my payment by only $75.

The $300 extra in my pay is a longevity pay. Each year, the state gives a bonus for years of service. This is really nice because of the state's strange ways that won't allow for merit raises. Still even the worst employee gets longevity. I can work my butt off and do an outstanding job and we would get the same bonus. I am not going turn my nose to money but it does burn me that we are all treated the same. You know, maybe I have it all wrong, maybe I should lower my work quality and lower my attitude so that it won't bug me that crappy employees get the same bonus I get.

The $114 from Google is the most exciting as it is pure profit from this blog ad revenues. It took four months or so for mom to click on an ad for me every day to earn the 100 bucks. So I challenge everyone who reads this blog to click on an ad if you like what I write. I am dying to see if I can get my next payment faster than four months!

You'd think all this money would be the highlight of my weekend but nope, I was able to visit with cousins that I haven't seen in a couple of decades and met a very sweet friend of my aunt [who owes us a Roomin noodle cold slaw recipe!]. The highlight of the weekend - reconnection, family and friends.

Enough for now...

When You're Numb...dancing babies

To be perky and witty every day is not possible. So today, I leave it to the dancing/skating babies to do it for me.



Enough for now...

Unions Are Killing America

I hate unions. To understand my thinking on this, first you need to know that I am a daughter of retired Air Traffic Controller and second, I worked for Oklahoma City Public Schools for seven years.

The only thing I witnessed the unions do at the school district was to protect the horrible teachers thus endangering children's future and complain about how much a teacher makes. Before I hear too much on that front, lets find out how much teachers actually make per hour.

Take the average salary of lets say 40K divide by 9 months. That equals $4,445 per month. Now teachers are also only required to be at school for six hours per day so that approximately 120 hours per month, which means they make $37 per hour not to mention all benefits included. Not bad for part time work. If they want more money get a full time job!

Then add in step raises every year for no other reason than they were employed that year, merit raises are unheard of. So I received the exact same raise no matter how hard I worked and the crappy employee who would sleep at her/his desk same raise as me.

I learned from the Air Traffic Controllers Union - go back on your word. Controllers signed a piece of paper that said they would not strike as their jobs were too vital to public safety. They did anyway. They were also unbelievably greedy. The salary raises they asked for was unrealistic and unfair to taxpayers. The union led good men and women down a dangerous path that cost them their jobs. The union leaders were wrong and thought that they had the government over a barrel - thank goodness President Regan was strong as he was.

Without such leaders, our country will go under because the unions do not care about fiscal responsibility, only greed. Here's to Wisconsin's Governor Walker who is doing the right thing, the responsible thing and down with democrats who ran away from their jobs!



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Dance Baby Dance

I want to be this little guy! I remember being young and having way to much energy. If only we all could be happy like him and care less what other people think. Notice the grown ups watching - when did we become the grown ups only to watch the dancers. We need to be the dancers!



Enough for now...

We need a healthy dose of healthy

Enough already! Dad has pneumonia. Seamus is licking his leg again. Mom is exhausted from caring for her sister. Aunt is ill. Friend Theresa is barking like a seal. Winston is needy.

I think I need a vacation but I don't think I could enjoy it for wondering how everyone was fairing. Dad is trying to say that he's not been sick that long and only gone to the doctor a couple of time prior to today. The man has been fighting a cough for more than six weeks. He's gone to the doctor's three times and never fully kicked this. So now he made sure to to get this but good. I don't envy Mom as Dad is male and not a good patient.

Seamus had stop licking his back legs bloody but when his Mom and Dad left him with me for five days that was just too much! My bed is not big enough for him and he has to curl his 118lb body in a ball at the bottom of my full-size bed. He has to compete with Winston for attention. And I am not his Mom.  I am hopeful that once he gets back home in his normal routine he will stop the destructive behavior.

My Aunt has been in the hospital and family members have rallied around her. My Aunt's condition is private but I am proud of my mom and my cousin who have forgone their own personal cares or desires to be at her bedside. Pray for all three of them for the strength needed in the time ahead.

Friend Theresa is just like me with severe allergies (well, hers are meaner than mine). She has been coughing now for a couple of months and I think she need to see a doctor now.  I always worry about a lingering cough.

Now that Seamus has gone home with his mom, Winston is wanting to lay on me, play with me or sit and stare at me until I give in and give him a carrot. It is hard to reassure a beagle that everything is okay.

I am amazed that I am not sick as I am always the first one sick. I think we've entered the sick season. I am not wanting any of it. Everyone take your vitamins! Below is the best commerical ever made, you know the writer was a woman!



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Coffee, blood sugar, give me a break!

I have recently changed my diet to include more whole foods versus processed food and it's going okay. As I was reading up on this new way of eating, I learned I should not be drinking coffee. Oh lordy, lordy what shall I do? I mean coffee makes morning and work bareable. Coffee makes sure that I don't tear someone's head off. Coffee is why we live, isn't it?

With such a high occurance of diabetes in my family, I am living my life as if I have it. I am taking a proactive stance on this horrible condition so that I don't end up having to take another pill daily or give myself shots.

So I have given up coffee and found I really like hot green tea and because of this I thought I would try other teas. The experimenting began, on Saturday I tried Apple Cimamon Tea. Well, I am trying to figure out how to express the horror that spread itself all over my mouth and how that horror is burned in to my brain to this day! That was the nastiest tasting stuff I have ever put in my mouth. I kind of like it to one of those meals on Survivor where it's ground up beattle or something more horrible.

Morning came and quite honestly, I was afraid to continue the experiment. I have two more boxes of tea, Earl Grey and Constant Comment, to try. With Saturday's experience I was scared to death to try again, I have heard a lot about Earl Grey, so I attempted it next.

I got one cup down, eh, didn't knock me over. Later on, I thought I'd try again. Okay, I can drink this, it is stronger than Green Tea but it grows on you. Life without coffee, we will see if I can do this.

Enough for now...

CMS Phooey

There are some geniuses out there who know how to create a good Content Management System (CMS) and then there are idiots. My friend, Theresa came over and I helped her update and clean up a website for the free PT clinic she volunteers for. I totally understand why they use a CMS as they are not web developers. But when you looked at the html, I was amazed at the junk the system in the code.

I truly feel so sorry for the people who use that particular CMS and want to make edits. When you would work in the "normal" window not the "html" window, you could change the font a million times but because it would not replace the old code just add to it, the font would never change. It was a nightmare.

I vote for a smart universal CMS code that only geniuses are allowed to write. Who is with me.

We did get the site cleaned up and looking nice. I don't know who was happier, Theresa for getting a project done or Seamus and Winston for having someone new to paw at, slobber over or jump on. I think both of them were quite smitten with her. She was great with them and loved all over them but when she returned home to her 110 lb lab, Harley, I think she might be in trouble.

Enough for now...

Music to no one's ears, but I did have fun

What song takes you back to your early childhood? I tend to hear "I can see clearly now the rain is gone" or "Delta Dawn what's that flower you have on..." but wait there's also "These boots are made for walking."

I really don't care for these songs but they remind me of being a little girl at home and just discovering that music has actual words. The truly scary thing is that I still think I could sing the entire song, "Delta Dawn," without to much prompting or cheating. Yeah, I memorized it.

I think one of the reasons that I loved that song so much is that I could really really really belt it out. "Delta Dawn" when you're seven or eight is just perfect for screaming. Now, think of these three song, do you really want to hear a child sing them? To make matters worse, I cannot sing one iota! When I sing dogs run for their lives.

Mom, Dad, Sis, I am sorry for the many hours I revelled in the ignorance that I could not carrying a tune. I did not know that my singing was awful until I was in 7th grade and Janice Dawson made me sing a short solo to determine if I was a alto or soprano. That was the first day of choir and I think I lip sync the entire year.



Enough for now...

Boggles the Mind

Survivor Redemption Island started and I have to admit I that do have a problem with Reality TV and Survivor is one of my worst addiction. Also, what is fun about that and Big Brother, I get to reconnect with old friend from my previous job who is just as addicted. We make fun of the players and sit stunned beyond relief, as we did tonight.

What is super cool now is that, instead of emailing back and forth the next day, we now sit on our couches and IM as the show develops. Now, ask me what is happening in Diane's life, I would have to go to her facebook page to find out as our messages consist of our Reality TV only.

This season's "I am a former Federal Agent" droopy brief dude, Phillip is so stupid that he gives the government a bad name! No wonder we a trillion dollar debt, illegals flooding through the border and a health care passed through Congress before they read it.

Utter, weirdness below.



Enough for now...

Revolution Galore

For those of you who do not follow politics, the Middle East is imploding. I am amazed at the unrest and I am more amazed that I did not realize there were so many despot out there. Geeze, every country over there has a dictator of 30 years or more.

I fear for Egypt right now. If the Brotherhood of Islam gets control, a very modern Egypt will go by the way of Iran, after the fall of the Shaw. Women will be force into servitude and hijab. Men will lose the ability to think for themselves.

I really fear for those who live in Iran. Their protest will not be like that of Egypt's, the military is on the side of the evil mullahs and the dirty little yak (as Laura Ingraham calls him, which I totally love). President Ahmadinejad will execute willy nilly since he has no respect for human life. What makes him more frightening is that he see himself as some kind of Prophet or Messiah, I don't know which.

It is scary out there fokes! United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Saudi Arabia are also imploding. Ireland is looking like the new vacation hot spot.

Enough for now...

I hate Mondays

What is with Mondays that make time pass so slowly? Time warps making every second two, every minute two and every hour an eternity. Making this Monday even longer is that I had to go to our commission meeting and take photos for employee recognition. If you have to attend boring commission meetings then the ones that have food and are mini parties are the best ones to attend.

I only had to spend an hour and a half down there, yet I didn't feel like I got anything accomplished. When I look back on the day, I did manage to get quite a bit done. It was just a lot of little items. When you complete a big project there's that relief and ego boost. Nothing of the sort today.

Today's jobs included sending reminder emails, to do list, time sheet, break down the photo backdrop, download photos and color corrected and cropped, nothing spectacular.

However, it did get better, kind of, I received my gigantic automatic dog feeder and my new electronic kettles. It's always wonderful when the Amazon.com gods send gifts. The problem was that Dana does not keep D size batteries in my home, so I had to get back in the car and get batteries.

I am somewhat floored at the size of feeder.  Winston is somewhat afraid of the thing but will risk life and limb for a carrot.

[Special Monday Treat]
I agree with Bob Geldof's "I don't like Mondays" in searching for this video I did have a short dash down memory lane - I had such a crush on Bob, sigh (with eyebrows for all you Wall fans that totally freaked me out, I digress, that's a whole post on its own).



Enough for now...

Good Coffee Coop!

Who out there watched David Lynch's "Twin Peaks"? Man do I miss that show, especially the early episodes. Here's the thing, I should not like that show. I hate comedies and stupidity but this show did it right. Whether it was Coop or the Log Lady, man o man, there hasn't been a show so addictive and so funny.

What I loved the most was when Lynch would actually guest star on the show. He kind reminds me of Dad on his bluetooth. While Dad isn't hard of hearing, he thinks he is when he answers the phone.  The video below brought back all the laughter. Enjoy!

Enough for now...

Little things excite me - hurry Mr. Fed Ex

If you haven't figured out by now that I am owned by my beagle, Winston. I have tried to convince him that I am the Queen and he is just the Prime Minister but he just cocks his head to the left then to right and runs outside.

So being that he rules, I get up every (and I mean every) morning anywhere from 5:30 to 5:45 a.m to feed the boy. When Winston had to go on a strict diet, I began feeding him right after work at 5:30 p.m. and exactly 12 hours later, which is 5:30 a.m. Then he was so hungry that I would do anything to make him feel better. Since we have added baby carrots and green beans to his diet to stave off the hunger pains. Now it is not as critical to feed on time as it once was.

Now, I am the one being tortured for the sake of stability. Last night I ordered the Petmate Le Bistro Portion-Control Automatic Pet Feeder from Amazon [I am so addicted to Amazon but that's another post altogether]. It can be programmed to to dispense up to three meals per day. Am I a crazy pet owner who will spend $50 on a dog food bowl or normal person who doesn't mind shelling out money for sleep?

Enough for now...

Just Wondering

At what point in life do we totally become content with who we are? When do we sit down and say "Yep, I am done. This is the life I want?" What do I want to be when I grow up?

I guess the problem with my pondering is that being a state employee in a state where the economy is not working in my favor - I am a little worried. I like what I do and I want to keep doing it but what if?

There's a shell bill on the books to outsource all state Public Information. I think this will lead to trouble as many departments will not mess with strangers for its PR and when the media calls, directors or division heads will answers the calls, which is not always good or staffers will design their own brochures, which is rarely good. It won't work and in three to four years they will begin to rehire PR people but they often try to cut PR first. I hope someone sees that this is a bad idea but who knows?

So what do I want to be when I grow up? A political speech writer but that will never happen. I am to afraid to even consider working in the political realm, I am single and without a husband to support me should my politician not get reelected or term limits out makes a political career impossible for me.

So dream #2, world famous novelist - a blend between Jane Austin and Tolkien. Insecurities and exhaustion from my current job prevent me from attempting that venture.

Here I sit wondering what this legislative session brings and why I would wear red sneakers with a pink dress and white tights?

Enough for now...

Horror at four o'clock

In my snow vegetative state, my TV channels were flipping between TNT and Fox News. I get news overload sometimes and others times I am hearing things for the first time and just about freak. Today was a freak day, on Glenn Beck's show he aired a montage of various speakers, leaders and political activitists talking about a "New World Order."

These people speak as if that is desirable outcome - NO, THAT WOULD BE BAD, VERY VERY BAD. No matter what format their "New World Order" should take, I like my Republic the way it is -- of the people, by the people, for the people. Where is the outrage from the general public that people speak thus.

Does our government always work? No, look at who our President is and we have live with the fact that people voted (wrong headed mind you) but voted none-the-less. I am praying that we are able to mitigate the damages and block the socialistic policies/regulations that the current administration tries to institutes. And vote better in 2012!

True Democrats and Republicans will be afraid of those who speak of "New World Order" let's just improve our Old American Order by returning to the spirit of the founding fathers and the constitution.

Enough for now...

Enough already, crazy panic shoppers leave some for me

I absolutely love this commercial! This is what I have been ranting about with everyone shopping as if it is the end of the world. Due to the fact that Walmart did not have hamburger meat, chicken breast or cucumbers on Saturday when I tried to do my normal weekly shopping, I had to go to the grocery store this evening.

I went to Homeland hoping to get my food stores for the week and low and behold they did not have any chicken. I will be struggling this week with only cow in my house. I am not a huge fan of a lot a cow. I prefer to eat chicken when I cook but alas it will be hamburgers and steak or eggs and bacon. Thanks crazy people who have to buy all the chicken in the store be cause its going to be a blizzard on Wednesday and a 55 DEGREE FREAKING HEAT WAVE ON SUNDAY!



Enough for now...

You've got to be kidding me

Who thinks that this ridiculous outfit with an equally ridiculous name, Hoodie Footie, would ever be a good idea?!? I am sorry but I am amazed at what people think looks good and more amazed that other people will buy it. Could there be a more unflattering set of pajamas ever created? No, I think not!

Now that we've established the horrendous nature of the Hoodie Footie lets talk about the pain in the rear that must happen when nature calls? You would have to completely undress just to go to the little girls room. Ridiculous! If it has a flap in the back then it is even worse.

Picture this, the average woman is not as thin as the super models in the commercials, so think about a woman who is 5'2" or so, with 20 to 30 pounds to much. She'd look more like the stuffed teddy bear in the picture than the super model. Yeah, that's what I want to look like!

If I can pull a rant a kin to my cousin who is hating the new annoying Taco Bell steak commercial. The Hoodie Footie commercial is super duper annoying! Who writes this stuff? Who thinks that's the way women act when we are at home.  Then that woman voice over makes it worse.  Very, very annoying.

Men do not buy your woman a Hoodie Footie!

Enough for now...

Mother of the Year?

First of all, if my rear was this big I would not bare-all in silver paint at any cost. I am not sure the Grand Canyon crack is that big. Second, if my mom was Kris Jenner, I'd have to be in therapy.

I oddly I watched E! this morning and ended up watching "Kim and Kourtney Take New York" in this episode, Kim took pictures for W magazine thinking that they would cover all the important parts with graphics like buildings / scenic things and when the magazine published, silver painted naked Kim is what they printed.

Furious she called her mother/manager, Kris Jenner, and wanted it corrected. She called it pornography and that she did want to do anymore nudity. I guess once you do Playboy (once your MOTHER could talk you into it). W magazine was not quit up to snuff.

I guess her mother (and I use that term lightly) checked on the mess up and called her back and said it had gone to print and that's it. But that she (Kim) looked great and should own it !??? What kind of mother exploits her own daughter to this level? I don't get it.

The following was printed in an article with Kim in Harper's Bazaar:

And she didn't love her 2007 Playboy cover. "I'm sorry I did Playboy. I was uncomfortable," she remembers, though at the time she was excited. "Go for it," she recalls her mother saying. "They might never ask you again. Our show isn't on the air yet. No one knows who you are. Do it and you'll have these beautiful pictures to look at when you're my age."

This is sad. A mother who repeatedly exploits her own daughter, first with Playboy now with W,  versus protecting her from the evils of world. She acts like she is the epitome of parental goodness on the show, "Keeping up with the Kardashians,"  and really Kris Jenner is horrendous and child services should look into the treatment of her to young daughters in the home.

Enough for now, I am thoroughly disgusted...

Who's Who

Those who know me well know that I absolutely love Sci-Fi. My dad started it all by letting me watch Star Trek long long ago when you had to sit next to the TV to easily turn the channel. Well I also watch a weirdo show on PBS called Doctor Who - didn't fancy it to much it to much in the late 70's or early 80's.

Then a few year's ago came Doctor Who to the Sci-Fi channel, where my TV is tune to more than Fox News. It was Doctor Who played by Christopher Eccleston, the ninth Doctor in the show's long standing broadcast. I will tell you that when they brought in number 10, I was less than pleased and it took a few episodes before I was happy with the new Doctor. Now I learned there is a number 11 coming our way. Dudes, quit switching my Doctor or please bring back the gorgeous number nine. Who's your favorite Doctor and do you think there will be a number 20?

Enough for now...

Blizzards and Riots - Alternate Earth Dimension

I still hate Al Gore!!! Giant fluffy flakes are falling as I type - this has got to stop! I have had enough snow for a lifetime. Dana does not do winter well and to have it hit over and over again is too much  for my sensibilities. I just shoveled the drive way and now it is filling it up again.

This I must declare vexes me greatly. A nice dusting to make every thing look pretty is about all I want this is absurd! I am sorely upset. This has got to stop.

Complaining about the weather seems somewhat ridiculous with what is happening in the Middle East, namely Egypt, but I really don't know how I feel about that. I don't like the fact that a despot can take over a country and I am very afraid of disposing such a despot will create a vacuum for radical Islam to fill.

I really don't understand the beating of the journalist, if you're a protester for it does not serve to get the story out. I do understand the government officials and supporters beating journalist - they don't want the story out.

I worry that entire region is destabilizing and I really worry that Iran is stirring the pot. These are scary times.
Read Fox News Reporter, Greg Palkot's account of horrific acts on the streets of Egypt.
Enough for now...

The house is closing in on me

My sparkle of babble brillance is severly dimmed when I am stuck in the house for three days and tomorrow will mark four. I have a two door little car that cannot traverse snow banks taller than my car itself. So here I sit without seeing any other human being, who do I snicker about? Who do I blog about? Myself, that's not unusual but there's nothing much to report. Sitting about watching "Charmed, Angel, Supernatural and Las Vegas" every morning, is not blog worthy.

The beagle is even bored with me. He sleeps all day and is ready for all that white stuff to go away. I did go outside and yesterday and scrapped my driveway. The problem is that the snow pile is so thick on the street that my car won't make it off the drive into the street.

I do want to extend a word of warning to anyone who makes fun of all those people who go to Walmart at the slightest hint of snow and buy six weeks worth of food - don't, they may not be all that silly. I am beginning to run low on food. At the beginning of the year, I started a high protein diet that is working but some of the things that make the diet bearable are bacon in the morning (out) and cottage cheese at lunch (will be out tomorrow). The thought of eating steak for breakfast, lunch and dinner is not good. So to all of you who stocked up on "snowed in" food, I salute you. I am about to have to resort to my neighbor's goat!

Enough for now...

So they say blizzard

If the weathermen don't get it right tomorrow and it doesn't snow 18 to 20 inches, the state of Oklahoma will never do the smart thing and close state offices ahead of time like they did today. I had already planned to bring my laptop home and telecommute if the weather was going to be so bad I wouldn't drive into town. But since the Govenor closed shop, I don't have to work. It's an administrative leave day.

I plan to read tomorrow and lay in bed like a lazy girl! I plan to do nothing important. I plan to annoy the beagle so much that he will begin hidding from me. I love snow days!

I, however, am living on the edge. I didn't not go to Walmart and buy 16 weeks of food and water. Nor did I go the gas station and fill up my already full car. Should I not be able to leave the house till Thursday, I think I should have enough food to make it, and enough gas to go no where. What could possibly drive me out of the house would be running out of coffee and I do think I am okay there too.

I was talking with a friend at another agency today and she was telling me that she was going to be stuck in the house ALL DAY with her husband tomorrow and someone would surely die! We laughed and I told her to dig out those snow shoes and send him on to work.

It's funny how when you can do anything you want, all you want to do is lay around the house but when you have to stay home because of blizzard, all you want to do is go out. What do you do when you get the rare snow day?

Enough for now...

01001000 01100101 01101100 01110000

Some days I just absolutely hate technology. I am just begining to perfect ASP files and I now need to learn new database driven program. I am not to happy about it all. I don't aspire to be a major developer just good enough to make my site run the way I envisioning it running. Without waiting for some geek to get around to my simple stuff.

I am being force over to Sharepoint 2010 or 10 (something like that) server and my old files are not compatable. I am trying to psych myself up for learning VB or PHP or whatever works on the new servers. Yippee! [She says with a highly sarcastic tone].

If I wait for our in-house IT, I will loose control of my on-line resource guide and I am not real comfortable with that. So, does anyone know the best language to learn? Let me rephrase that, does anyone know the easiest language to learn?

Enough for now...

Obama: 62 minutes of empty rhetoric

President Obama gave his State of the Union speech tonight but I could not watch. His arrogance just oozes from him that total turns me off. It is not the Democrat/Republican side taking, he offends my sensibilities by talking down to us. He believes the American public is a bunch of idiots. I am also tired of his empty promises and rhetoric. I have had enough of hearing him say what people what to hear and then ramming his own agenda down our throats.

Now that he's trying to move to the middle, I find him totally hypocritical. After years of extremely liberal policies are we really supposed to believe that he's conservative Democrat? No way, he's lying to us AGAIN. Executive orders will begin shortly.

Spending!! What is wrong with him and Congress? Are they expecting China to keep its pocketbook open indefinitely? Dave Ramsey has a radio show and special trainings to teach Americans to manage their own finances responsibly. People can go to jail for passing bad checks or miss managing their money - what happens to a Country that mismanages it money? Its citizens suffer. We are headed steadfast to major suffering if they don't get spending under control. Even Dave Ramsey will not be able to get us out of this mess.

Enough for now...

George Moved In

I recently bought a George Foreman grill and I am learning how to cook meat. It's kind of cool but at the same time I still don't think I will ever be on Iron Chef America filleting an swordfish to marinating in peanut butter.

The thing that I am not liking to much is the smokey smell that lingers. I use the grill right under my vent hood on my stove but so that most of it goes outside.

I need to learn how how to prepare meat other than put meat on grill close lid. Does anyone know any good recipes?

The George grill is perfect for one or two. Little George is my new best friend.

Enough for now...

I Love Modern Day Housekeeping!!

Have you ever watched a Roomba work? I did tonight and its rather Schizophrenic in its pattern of vacuuming. Its also quit entertaining to watch the dogs, watch the Roomba.

Seamus lays on the couch and watches it with his ears perked and occasionally woofs real softly. Winston follows it around at a very safe distance and as soon as it turns towards him, he darts outside as fast as he can.

I follow it around marvelling at the fact that I am not pushing a sweeper. I also love the fact that I can vacuum every day now. I was amazed at how big the thing is? I expected something along the size of a dinner plate not a platter.

I did mention how cool it is? It's part of my Christmas and Birthday and let me tell you I am as excited as a five-year-old after Santa has dropped off all his goodies and ate the cookies!

Enough for now...